Sunday, September 29, 2013

The Sunday Currently XIII: SBQL

I got a bit verbose in my last Sunday Currently a few weeks ago and then KC set the bar pretty high when she visited with her own, so I think I need some structure here or I'm just going to share the whole internet plus the entire contents of my mind with you today.  Shall we limit this to a good SBQL?  Yes, let's.

clockwise from top left: look, song, book, quote

currently...

listening... to Jimmy Fallon's latest Lip Synch-Off with Stephen Merchant and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Well, I've been doing more than listening to it, actually; I've been participating in it from the safety of my own couch.  I dare you not to lip synch along when you watch it!  You might even catch yourself throwing a few shapes.  (Is that what the kids say these days?  I have no idea.)

reading... The Winter of the World, the second book in Ken Follett's The Century Trilogy.  The first dealt (primarily) with World War I, a topic I don't know much about, and we're now heading into World War II.  Delving into the different political movements of the era, the books tie together multiple families across Europe and America, and so a fabulous job of rooting exciting drama in very real issues that impacted millions of people across the globe.  (This series is a lot like Edward Rutherford's novels in that way.)  His writing is totally engrossing - I actually researched non-fiction works about the time period after I finished Fall of Giants because I was hooked!  These might be a little overwhelming to start with if you've never read any Ken Follett before, but I'd definitely check out Pillars of the Earth, one of my favorites by him, which is about the building of a cathedral in 12th century England.

thinking... about this passage from the Book of Ruth.  I'm Jewish, as you know, though I identify with a lot of liberal Anglicanism, and I absolutely consider myself spiritual in a larger sense; however, I have never found my faith (however it may be categorized) to be deeply rooted in scripture.  So it's a little unexpected that, as Jon and I prepare his visa so that he can expatriate to the US and discuss longer-term plans, including eventually moving back to England, I keep coming back to this verse.  Wither thou goest, I will go.  It's so simple and yet so powerful - there is so much love in that one sentiment.

loving... my friend Bethie's updates these days!  I knew Bethie vaguely in Washington, and she and her husband and their daughter Charlotte moved to London soon after I did.  I babysat Charlie a few times when she was a baby, and it's been so sweet to watch her grow up on Instagram since I've come back to the States.  (Speaking of our plans and decisions about when to move back to England, it might have to be early enough for our children to have a English accents.  I almost never say that because - well, because of several reasons that are part of a totally different and much more indignant post, but how cute is this?)  After months of struggles and heartache, Bethie announced over the summer that she and Jason are expecting again - and it makes me so happy!  They are such a lovely family and it's such a joyous time for them.  I asked if I could share this bump photo (and her new blog) with you, dear readers, to bring a smile to your faces, and Bethie said yes!

With that, we'll keep today's post short and sweet!  I just want to remind you about the link-up I'm co-hosting with my September sponsors tomorrow - the prompt is to tell us about a time when you felt most beautiful.  That can go in any direction, so I hope you have fun writing it!  Then come back and share it with us tomorrow morning and see what everyone else has said.  I think it'll be a really illuminating and inspiring link-up, don't you?  Can't wait to read your answers!  Happy Sunday, everyone.

linking up with je na sais quoi and siddathornton

28 comments:

  1. ah! sorry - key point :)


    song / book / quote / look


    it's something Jenna at je na sais quois does!

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  2. I like the sound of that link-up prompt! I'm sure you'll get a ton of sweet posts and I can't wait to check back and read.

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  3. I loved Pillars of the Earth! It happened to be in the gift shop of our resort on our honeymoon, and since I already finished the one book I brought I knew I needed something to hold me over the other six days--I've been meaning to read more Ken Follet since I loved that book so much, so I can't wait to check these out.

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  4. We had that quote read in Swedish at our wedding and my heart always swells with love and happiness when I read it. I would love to do something in cross stitch or embroidery with it to have above our bed.

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  5. Isn't that lip sync video the best? I was cracking up the entire time! Eeeee, and I'm so excited for the link-up tomorrow! Can't wait to see what everyone has written. :)

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  6. Love the verse from Ruth. Loved JG-L's Nicki Minaj dance, and love this sweet shout-out to your friend.

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  7. Beautifully written, Betsy! I need to follow your lead - my Sunday Currently posts need some structure, but I do love the chance to write a wonderfully random post! There's balance in there somewhere! See you tomorrow for the link up!

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  8. I always ask Peter where he'd like to live (I'll be applying for residencies in about a year) and he always says "where you are." It's such a simple sentiment, but it makes me beam ear to ear. And no, the English accent doesn't hurt :)

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  9. We had to pick a bible passage for our wedding (long story. big regret.) and I picked that passage from Ruth. Definitely a good one :)
    And I loooove Pillars... less so, World Without End. I enjoy Rutherford as well... so I think I'll have to check out this trilogy! Thanks!


    I've never heard "throwing shapes", but I googled it. Paul and I were just discussing how neither of us knows what dubstep is. I'm so out of touch. And okay with it!

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  10. So, even after moving back to Atlanta when Finn was 8 months and not yet speaking, I can tell you that we get told ALL the time that he sounds like he has a British accent. It isn't strong, and I don't even hear it, but people point it out all the time. Lila has a little one too. They also use all British terms for things - rubbish, bins, boot, lift, post, postman, cheeky, zed, zeh-bruh, you name it, they say it. So even if you don't move back don't fear, I think your future little ones will have a British brogue regardless :)

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  11. haha probably! my feelings about saying "I want my children to have an English accent" have nothing to do with the kids and the cuteness and everything to do with the socio-political implications of what that means. (Obviously. I mean, it's me. haha!)

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  12. I wish we could have had an Old Testament reading! boo civil ceremony.


    World Without End was disappointing, but I don't think it was possible to top Pillars. I'm halfway through Winter and it's just as good as the first though!

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  13. haha they can say almost anything and make it sound loving :P

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  14. I just have a really hard time limiting myself to a sentence or two per thought! haha

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  15. Um, Lee wants Finn to have an accent so he has an easier time picking up girls. So I think your socio-political implications are probably better than that!

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  16. That book sounds interesting! I'll have to check it out.

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  17. That Biblical passage is one of my absolute favorites. I wanted to work it into our wedding readings somehow, but didn't find an organic way. I love the starkness of it: you go there, so will I. Beautiful.

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  18. i love the combination TSC/SBQL post! now that i'm back to blogging (well, officially tomorrow), i'm looking forward to another SBQL post soon. all these abbreviations make me sound pretty hip, i must say :)

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  19. I really like his WWII ones also - Jackdaws and Hornet Flight are a bit shorter if you don't want to carry around a tome :)

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  20. oh what I lovely idea! I might copy you on that...

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  21. haha me too! and the funniest part is that I wasn't singing along when I watched it - I was lip-synching along! oh man.

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  22. haha but Finn will appreciate Lee's motives more :P

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  23. Have a fabulous week! I love Jimmy Fallon!!!

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  24. That scripture is one I love. My parents had it read at their wedding, and we had it read at ours. I feel like it has really been part of our lives as we have both moved for each other at one point or another, and I sacrificed the "home" (city) I would most like to live in to be with him. I kind of wrote about it my last post. Anyway, I think it is absolutely beautiful.

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  25. Winter of the World!!! Doesn't the beginning just tear you apart? I love Follett, I cannot wait for the third one! x

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I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.